Lethal Enforcers (Arcade) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Konami's 1992 arcade light gun shooter, Lethal Enforcers.
Played through on the machine's default settings.
Lethal Enforcers is a game I fell in love with the first time I played it. I found the SNES game (in its giant box that included the blue Justifier light gun) under the tree on Christmas morning of 1992, and I largely ignored the rest of the games I got until I managed it to beat it. It kicked my rear end over and over, but with enough obsessive practice, I finally managed to get through it, and I loved every second of it.
The funny thing is that I knew very little of it at the time, and I though it looked neat from the little blurb in Nintendo Power, it wasn't a game that I ever said anything about, much less asked for. Apparently my parents knew my tastes better than I realized, though, and somehow even than I knew myself :) How glad I was for that totally unexpected surprise.
It wasn't until a few years later that I got to play the arcade version (that this video is of), but it was just as awesome as I had hoped it would be after spending so much time with the killer SNES port.
First appearing in arcades in 1992 (with ports appearing on the SNES, Genesis, Sega CD, and PlayStation), the game made a huge splash thanks to its use of digitized images in place of more traditional hand-made sprites. While other games had used this technique before this one did, Lethal Enforcers's release date placed it squarely in the middle of the media frenzy decrying realistic depictions of violence in games, right alongside Night Trap and Mortal Kombat.
You play as a Chicago cop who is sent to deal with a series of five "situations" that develop around the city. With little in the way of backup, you act as an army of one against crimes that escalate to a ridiculous scale with nothing but your service revolver, barring the occasional upgrades that you'll find lying around such as uzis, shotguns, and a grenade launcher.
The game plays a lot like Freedom Force or Operation Wolf - it's a shooting gallery with all sorts of colorful backdrops and characters dropped in as windows dressing - and man, does it deliver the entertainment. You take out small sporty cars holding impossible numbers of hitmen, a crazed renegade military office firing rockets from a jumbo jet, and even an Apache helicopter from a factory catwalk before you can call it a day.
All of the backdrops are digitized photos shot on location in and around Chicago, and the people are all actors dressed up in costumes, and here's a big hint: if you aren't sure who is innocent, just shoot at the people in sunglasses. Apparently the criminals never figure out that they'd be safe if they took them off.
The graphics are a little crude by modern standards, but they were amazing in 1992, especially on the big screen of the deluxe cabinet. The jerky animations did their job well enough, and the resolution of the game's image scans is high enough that there is a lot of detail without much graininess, and the short FMV clips kicking off each mission were always a really cool touch. It was more "realistic" than any other game like it at the time, and people loved it for that reason.
The sound is also fantastic. Digitized screams, grunts, and absurd phrases abound as you wreak havoc on the city, from "Eat lead, copper!" as a guy pops out from behind a dumpster, to "Uh-oh!" when you shoot a vagrant sleeping on a bench in a subway station. It's all highly quotable, and when layered over a cacophony of bass-filled gunshots and one of the most memorable Konami arcade soundtracks ever produced, the game's audio made for a huge part of its appeal.
Lethal Enforcers is one of Konami's best remembered arcade classics, and nearly thirty years later, it's still easy to see the appeal. I mean, in what other game can you gun down 300 people and destroy a helicopter over a heavily populated neighborhood, only to then report over the radio, "Situation under control, unit five out"?
_
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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[@AchtungBaby77]

Ah yes, Lethal Enforcers - the universe where 150+ people rob a bank, dozens of people can fit in a car, hostages intentionally stand in the middle of gunfights, and a lone police officer armed with a service revolver can take down choppers! God I miss 90s gaming!

[@JFJD]

12:50 “I am *done* with my shift, and I could not care less about what any of you are doing.”

[@davidkrocks]

JFJD I’m getting paid to fly, not to run

[@TheAdx1001]

Lmfao that dude was the definition of "not my problem"

[@yimmiyammm6302]

Somebody needs to bring this style of game development back; with digitized character models and prerendered backgrounds...shit was great!!! Still is!!!!

[@walterwhite1]

Liberals won’t allow it. Way to violent for them!

[@jamesl.anderson1384]

“Situation under control, Unit 5 out.„ ~ Don Marshall

[@Hardrockfan21]

It's Friday afternoon and afterschool, got a pocket full of quarters and a 7eleven down the street from your house, with this in the store. Anybody else have that experience?

[@stephenmanuel9860]

I didn't grow up in a town with an arcade, so my exposure was limited to weekends in the city and, of all places, a passenger ferry terminal.

[@WhiteDragon103]

Ah yes, resting a cold Cola slushy somewhere on the arcade machine, pocket full of quarters, playing this alongside Metal Slug, Mace - The Dark Age, TMNT, Double Axle... Under the glow of blacklights.

[@timboslice1979]

Only difference for me, it was the local mall

[@joeellis2692]

My Town had a post office and a arcade that didn't last long that was it. Now just the post office. My playing was once a month at the mall or birthdays at chucky cheese.

[@Bloodreign1]

We have 2 malls, both had arcades at some point, both had both Lethal Enforcers games. When I went to Austin, Texas at Pinballz arcade, LE 1 was there, got to play it for the first time in years. Same time I was on vacation there and hit that place, got to play Sunset Riders for the first time in over 20 years at a Game Over retro game shop in San Antonio. Couple years prior in Panama City Beach, Fla, I got a reunion with an Arkanoid cabinet, hadn't played one in 30 years, used to have one at a long closed teen pool hall in the town I live in. Wasn't the same cabinet no, but it was the same game as I remembered.

[@scorsyshotsy9015]

Judging from the skill, looks like 25 years of playing has finally paid off for this play through.

[@scorsyshotsy9015]

Still tryna beat LE2 (myself)

[@NintendoComplete]

Ever wanted to take down an Apache helicopter with a revolver, or to wipe out a clown car filled with terrorists? Lethal Enforcers has you covered. What a ridiculous, and awesome, game.

[@Invidente7]

That final boss was insanely hard

[@stephenmanuel9860]

@@Invidente7 Especially how there's probably no way to avoid taking damage from the machine guns. I guess you need to have a bunch of lives stocked up or have a couple of quarters ready.

[@stephenmanuel9860]

I'm wondering now, having rewatched the final phase of the last boss...does he seem to flinch when shot and get invincibility frames right after? Maybe if the player is precise enough with their timing and rhythm he could be stun-locked. Just curious, really.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@stephenmanuel9860 If there is a way to avoid being hit at the last boss, I've certainly never figured it out. If it is a stun lock, it requires a level of precision that I seem to flat out lack lol

[@Mark-uh4zd]

@@stephenmanuel9860 On the Genesis version, I was able to shoot the machine gun on the chopper fast enough to destroy it without taking damage. Same with the boss as well. On the Genesis platform, if you shoot him fast enough, he won't be able to get a shot off. The arcade version is much harder and I do not think there's a way to avoid getting hit.

[@RKLuffy88]

The 2nd boss battle with the Triad leader on the train was the best I've ever seen! Great shooting his thrown swords, then going for a headshot every time! No shooting his body, where he'll block every shot with his swords, something I've never seen the others do. Better than every other version I've seen on KZbin!

[@latch78]

How many people are robbing that bank?!

[@hunterjorschumb8327]

Right, like the payout afterward would be like $3.50 per person haha!

[@scorsyshotsy9015]

Also, was that a clown car?! There was like 50 guys in one small car, yet the GIANT van had only one guy!?Also also, what were those hostages doing running into a gun fight?!

[@rcblazer]

I love the way the other Chicago officers that appear don't manage to shoot anybody while you're busy putting Robocop to shame by single-handedly dropping entire armies worth of criminals and terrorists. Stuff like this is why I love video games!

[@NintendoComplete]

Lmao, OCP's stormtroopers

[@Eazye166]

I remember playing at my friends with the big ass blue revolver

[@shimsham6]

This was a tremendously fun game back in the day that just about every arcade had a cabinet of that i can remember. Sure it hasn't aged all that well over the years, yet despite that, this game is still a joy to play and i can never not smile when i hear the "LETHAL ENFORCERS!" on the eye-catch/title plays.

[@jeremydavidson1420]

this was one awesome arcade game i evered played. though to be fair i didnt even know that there was a snes version and i nevered got to finish the game but thank you for showing all the stages i missed and i hope you have a great day.

[@twitchsopamanxx]

"You killed over a thousand people today. Top work, rookie"

[@jasonschlesinger5343]

23:42. Must be nodding to The Terminator movie when The Terminator attacks the police station.

[@koolandblue]

“Eat lead, copper! You can’t kill me copper! Ya missed me big!” The best part of this game was the trash talk. I love how cartoonishly silly and over the top the goons were.

[@danielferstendig]

It's pig not big

[@puanrumbiak9833]

Lethal Enfighters

[@thecowboy2]

If / when you play Lethal Enforcers 2, prepare to have "You can't hit the broad side of a barn!" stuck in your head. Just forewarning you. LOL.

[@ShadowMoon878]

The game is full of late 80s/early 90s cheesiness with all the gangsters looking like extras from movies like Goodfellas or Big Trouble in Little China.

[@Tolson2024]

i remember this game in the bar my grandparents went to all the time :)

[@timboslice1979]

Gotta love the "help" you get from the rent-a-cop. Shoots at nothing.

[@antoniobranch]

"Shoot the fuel truck, it will explode."

[@GareBearGamingGround]

Oh man I remember renting this game for my Genesis as a kid. Unfortunately, I didn't have the Enforcer gun so I had to use the controller. Good god that was a nightmare. Classic game though!

[@joeellis2692]

I still have my Genesis and this game and 2 with one gun. I also have T2 no guns though. My Saturn got stolen with Area 51 both guns and games my second controller for leathal force and my guns for T2.

[@rucu8311]

On sn emulator could you not use mouse

[@danielsantana540]

Lethal enforcers released 11 19 1992 same date as Simpson's episode mr snow plow

[@ThunderMarco911]

This game is one of hardest rail shooting games if set in the hardest mode. These criminals and goons don't mess around, they're quick at shooting when they appear. Even Jigen (From Lupin III), Lucky luke, Ryo Saeba (From City Hunter) and Cocco Bill will face an hard time to fend off these criminals and goons. Btw, 100th comment.

[@foxmulder4318]

"Eat lead!!!'

[@Wesley_C]

"Situation under control, unit 1 out."

[@matthewrivera5923]

unit 5 actually

[@chipdrusano]

They need to bring this to mobile IOS/Android!

[@franciscobatalla7876]

Bueno realmente muy bueno ese juego salió en las arcades de 1992 por Konami hizo los actores reales son algunos el popular sacaron varias consolas parece bien esto.

[@Nestalgba92023]

Wow! You are Really good at this!

[@Tatsh2DX]

There sure are a lot of national rubber stamp companies!

[@matthewrivera5923]

that what AVGN said about this game on his Sega CD video.

[@therealisticgamer5834]

At least this game got a home port on the snes which came with the konami justifier it looks cool.

[@stephenmanuel9860]

The SNES version played the best overall IMO but had the blood effects removed. Also one of the missions was renamed, I think.

[@foxmulder4318]

I only ever played the Genesis version. Loved it.

[@dustman820]

@@stephenmanuel9860 Two levels actually.China Town Assault got changed to Downtown Assault and The Drug Dealer got changed to The Gunrunners.

[@stephenmanuel9860]

@@dustman820 Nice! Thanks. :)

[@ChowYunThin]

0:03 Some of those default names are either firearms (AKM, FNC, UZI, AUG, PPK) or manufacturers (IMI, SIG). Someone on the team knew their guns. 30:46 Oh wow, that pilot is cheap as hell and more dangerous than the Apache he's in. What was the point of the Magnum? Bigger hitbox?

[@NintendoComplete]

Yeah, it also does more damage than the standard bullets.

[@Unaliq]

This is so much better than the SNES version in every way possible.

[@lionelm1911]

Man all this arcade shooting games from sega/SNES could be port to the wii

[@GaryBeltz]

"EAT LEAD COPPER!"

[@PSx1991]

PSY getting hit by bullet.

[@metalheadbisp]

Loved that game but damn impossible to beat

[@SoulStreak64]

I'm gonna say it... This looks and feels more realistic than Mortal Kombat.

[@therealisticgamer5834]

It's like your shooting at cut out photographs

[@stephenmanuel9860]

@@therealisticgamer5834 True, but I see their point. No magical attacks, no four-armed dragon-men, and definitely more relatable than a martial arts tournament - the gun peripheral makes it feel more immersive, I guess? But this is really like comparing shoe sizes with regards to IRL believability. XD

[@survivalintel5241]

lol this game is so cheezy but it looks decent. i want to know how you throw swords from 2 moving objects lol

[@_.Alucard._]

I never liked this game but I still remember it the arcade during the '90s.

[@foxsky4336]

Bon jeu de shoot

[@danielsantana540]

Great game

[@Mcmadness288]

May as well be "Dirty Harry: The Video game"

[@vgaoct91]

Nicely played, Captain! This game was controversial, but nevertheless influential for gaming and the rail shooter genre!

[@NintendoComplete]

Thanks! I think would be have gotten commander, but I just couldn't resist shooting the subway bench guy.

[@vgaoct91]

@@NintendoComplete Can't wait to see how you handle the second game's arcade release! From what I can tell, it's a lot faster-paced and the bad guys really put your quick-draw to the test!

[@NintendoComplete]

@@vgaoct91 Oh yeah, the second game is a lot harder. It can make me say words I usually won't say.

[@stephenmanuel9860]

Lethal Enforcers 2 arcade soon, maybe? ;)

[@franky5angels65]

Good times…

[@Pikminfan982]

I use to play this at peter piper pizza in las Cruces nm.

[@fahriakalin5936]

How are you playing this? With a mouse? Or did you modify a *JUSTIFIER*

[@NintendoComplete]

I used a mouse to play it in Mame.

[@Wesley_C]

Best FPS game ever.

[@eazye088]

This isn't a FPS. It's actually called a Rail Shooter.

[@jontalbain4489]

Excelente juego ademas tiene las mismas voces de los legionarios de asterix arcade otro juego de konami

[@Papart2029]

Back then when I was about to play this game in a Quantum arcade game houses, the light gun controller was either lost or not aiming directly at the target. Good old days🙌

[@eazye088]

Can we get one of those mini arcade of this?

[@SammyRenard]

It's goofy, but it's fun goofy

[@beowulfagate4712]

0 Arrests. Lol.

[@foxsky4336]

Vive les Anglais !!!

[@jordanthomas7304]

Realistic bullet holes.

[@edparadis6685]

WEll done with the game . Way to shoot the bum by the way

[@Globodyne]

Why are there so many people robbing the same bank?

[@gibain]

El estilo de este juego me encanta!

[@JP-xo6bp]

Bullshit you didn't make Commander at the end

[@hastat7322]

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